Genuine Volvo Trans-Am car to be reunited with its original driver

Owners of old race cars routinely give their cars a new lease on life decades after they last turned a wheel in anger, but rarely do they get the chance to do the same for the drivers who once raced those cars. Yet that’s exactly the story of the 1964 Volvo 122S that Stephen Sharkey once used to compete in Trans-Am.

I had been looking for a vintage race car to restore with my dad for about two years. I’ve longed for a chance to get that connection. In fact, he’s always had a garage full of interesting cars, but we never worked on them together – they just sat there. They were beautiful, but not cars we could work on. Maybe that is why I fell in love with the idea of vintage racing. The cars at the track, no matter how rare or valuable, were being driven.

By the time I was old enough to afford a classic car and invite him to be part of it, we lived 600 miles away from each other. So far the closest we have had to working on the car together is talking about my new discoveries over the phone or during the three to five times a year that we see each other. I guess you can say distance has not been so understanding to my desires.

My challenge was that I wanted a car with a story. I didn’t want to buy a car that was purposefully built for vintage racing; I wanted the real thing! In addition, my price point was not where I could afford to buy one of Mark Donohue’s cars… I had to start digging. That quest took me out to California to dig through the barns of car hoarder and former SCCA driver Dick Carter. It also brought me to looking at every single classified listing posted in the USA.

I uncovered some pretty awesome cars, including a 1965 289 Cobra slabside and a real GT40 that has been in a minor fire; it was offered to me for $50,000, and with regret, I had to turn him down because it was a bit out of my price range. The list goes on!

Nonetheless, I was on a mission. I would go out looking for race cars. If someone mentioned the word race car, and if I was within earshot, I would inquire. At that time, I was on a quest to find something good – I had no idea I would discover something great!

That dedicated search turned up the Volvo in February 2008 in Canton, Ohio.

The nephew of the 3rd owner, Bob Atkins, was sick of seeing the 122 take up space in his barn. He decided one day that it had to go, and he pushed it outside under a tree and put a For Sale sign in it. The car was sitting there for who knows how long until Garrett saw it. This guy whom I only know as Garrett 330-232-2507, saw it on his way to work. He is a late 30s-early 40s greaser/shade tree mechanic and self-proclaimed ‘car flipper,’ and he thought he could flip the car and make a few dollars. Only he did not know what he had. A hot rodder to his core, he knew it was cool, he knew it was a race car, he knew it had been sitting in a barn for 30 years, but he never was able to make the connection. In fact, he could not give the car away. Everyone just thought it was an undesirable beat-up old car. After all, what good is it – it doesn’t even have headlights!

I, being someone who lives, breathes and wishes that I had been around during the 1960s-70s era of sports-car racing, knew right away what it was. In fact, the rarely seen brass tag was still hanging proudly on the roll bar. The real deal: a Trans-Am B Sedan race car! Sure, it wasn’t the Herb Weston GTA, but in my eyes, it was something better, it was a car that had been forgotten about. This car had a story! I kept my poker face, made him an offer and two weeks later was driving down to Ohio to pick it up. The car had so many spares, a trip that I naively thought would take an afternoon, took 24 hours. Best 24 hours of my life. Laura, my now-girlfriend, and I connected during this experience – at the time we were just friends. We talked the entire trip. It was like compressing months’ worth of dating into 24 hours. We never kissed, never even touched each other… just talked.

From what I understand, the car started life as a grocery getter. It is a 1964 model that has been converted to four-wheel disc brakes and has many P1800/R-Sport modifications.

I was in love, and the beat-up little car was crying to have someone show it love. I knew that this was my chance to own a car that raced next to the drivers I had read about for years, and had watched clips of on YouTube and ESPN2 opening sequences. I knew that if I dug deep enough, I could learn just as much about this car’s past as I could any former big-name car. I had to have it! And believe me, it has been amazing to be able to go on a website or talk to people that went to those races and hear them say “Oh yeah, I remember that car! Let me go through my photos….” It is like a drug. I am addicted to learning all about the races this little car has been in, how it qualified/ran during those races – and from what I’ve found, this little car did really well. I have numerous pages of results showing that this grocery getter could move! Kevin, Archival Associate for the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, New York, has been a lot of help! He has uncovered a great deal of history for me, but I’m always looking for more. I seek out the people that were at the East Coast road racing tracks during those years.

Clay was able to reach the widow of the car’s second owner, Harold Cunningham;

I have spoken once on the phone with Harold Cunningham’s wife, Thelma; Harold had just passed away when we spoke. It took me two years of cold-calling every Cunningham on the East Coast to finally get to talk to her. That conversation was brief, but she was nice enough to send me Xerox copies of some dash plaques of when he raced a Bugeye Healey, a photo of Harold during high school, and a single image of the Volvo.

But the greatest victory was tracking down the car’s original builder and racer, Stephen Sharkey (in white tee shirt, below).

A couple of years ago, after dialing 1,000 phone numbers and emailing everyone in New York, I finally connected with Stephen Sharkey, who was the 80-something-year-old man that I had suspected was the original builder/driver of my Volvo 122 SCCA B Sedan 2.5 Challenge Trans-Am race car… the only one known to remain of the four or five Volvos that ran in that series. To my surprise, he not only confirmed that he was the driver, he let me become part of his life. Though we have never met, we send letters back and forth and talk on the phone like old friends.

The first time Mr. Sharkey and I talked, he was thrilled! He said that he had always wondered what had happened to his old girl. During that first conversation, we must have talked for an hour, and the conversation never deviated from racing. I had a list of questions 100 deep and he, like a grandfather regaling me with old war stories, answered just about every one of them. I think the conversation had an impact on him too, because maybe a week later I received the first of many packages in the mail. It had a short note and three photographs. Proof that it was his car!

Since then, he has sent me no less than 50 photographs showing the racer from every angle. He can be seen [holding a rag] in the photo where the Volvo is behind the trailer. He also has sent over a stack of SCCA trophy-plaques showing his achievements as a driver.

The friendship that has developed between Clay and Stephen has proved beneficial for both men, as well as their Volvo. Two years after Clay found Stephen, Stephen’s life took a sad turn, as we see from an email Stephen’s daughter, Diane, sent Clay:

Hi Clay,

Aha!! I have finally found the person who has given my Dad a new lease on life = YOU! He is so excited that someone out there shares his passion for racing and especially for His Sweetheart of a Car! He has enjoyed all of your correspondence and is anxiously waiting to visit (with you). You began corresponding with him at a time when he did not have much to look forward to. My mom, his wife of 60 years, recently suffered a stroke, which turned our world upside down. Both of them have been relatively healthy until this happened. They traveled, sailed, raced, up until they were in their early 80s. My Dad has had a tremendous amount of change in his life..after my mom suffered her first stroke, my parents were forced to sell their home of 30 years (you can not begin to imagine the “stuff” accumulated in 30 years!!!). They moved into an apartment in a Retirement Community. Unfortunately, a few months later he fell and broke his ankle and was no longer able to care for my mom. They both ended up in the nursing home; however, she suffered another stroke and is now a resident in the nursing home. He has gone back to the apartment and resides there with his faithful cat. It has been an enormous adjustment for him to live by himself. He does not have friends that are as passionate about racing as you seem to be. He lights up whenever you send him anything or get in touch with him…

After receiving the email and learning how much the connection meant to Stephen, Clay decided it was time he get the formerly barn-fresh racer driveable. He also decided it was time that Stephen see the Volvo in person yet again.

And while physical distance has prevented his father from being an active participant in the Volvo’s restoration, Clay holds out hope for the future:

This past year, I have had to face the fact that I may never get to restore a car with my father. That makes me sad, but I am hopeful that he shows enthusiasm and wants to come out and be part of my pit crew at every race. So far, with this reunion, he has been really very supportive. He trailed the car out to Michigan so the guys at European Auto Restoration could take care of all the work that needed to be done in preparation of this reunion, and he’s planning on being here for every moment of the reunion.

Stephen is scheduled to attend the July 27-29 Waterford Hills vintage race and will be reunited with his old race car. Although the car is not fully restored, it will be mechanically ready for him to enjoy on the track during the lunch break touring sessions and exhibition runs. I can’t wait to talk with him face to face. I haven’t told him yet, but I am eager to toss him the keys, to see his face light up when that mighty four-cylinder comes to life and breathes fire. I can’t think of a much grander way to say to someone, Thank You.

We’ve just learned that, unfortunately, Mr. Sharkey will not be able to attend the Waterford Hills vintage race this weekend, so his meeting with Clay and his reunion with the Volvo have been put on hold. His daughter Diane reports that he’s still hugely excited about this opportunity, and that they’ll make every effort to meet in the near future. Clay gamely notes that the reunion will happen someday, and on a positive note, perhaps the car will be fully restored by that time. We wish them all well.

July 11, 2012 9:11 am

Norm Murdocksays:

July 11, 2012 10:08 am

Bruce, Herb Adams’ “Gray Ghost” was actually a Tempest. It lives on as a vintage racer car. Clay, hopefully, see you and Stephen at Waterford later this month. Nice story. I have something similar I’m engage in with an olde racer and his olde race car, but it’s trans-Atlantic and involves a foreign language!

July 11, 2012 10:33 am

Clay Carpentersays:

July 11, 2012 8:57 pm

Hi Jon, any chance that you are related to the Don McKnight Volvo 122 SCCA/Trans-Am driver?

Thank you for the invite! Laura and I have talked about Watkins Glen being the next race on our list, due to my car having spent so much time there. My thought is, that Volvo has been around that track so many times that all I will have to do is press on the gas peddle and go along for the ride! But we will have to postpone that trip till next year, as I will be standing up in a wedding that weekend.

Stevesays:

July 11, 2012 10:35 am

When it’s all over, all that’s left are the stories, the monuments we build, and the memories, hopefully passed on. To be appreciated and our worthy efforts honored is probably at the core of human interaction. I hope the Mr. Sharkey gets to see the pleasure his effort has brought others, and Mr. Carpenter enjoys the car and the satisfaction he’s brought to its builder/driver.

shawnsays:

July 11, 2012 10:54 am

cardogsays:

July 11, 2012 11:30 am

Great story! My first car was my parents ’68 122S. I used to see one race at Limerock in the late 70’s and woulkd cheer it on. That one was more of a maroonish color, I Think? I will have to dig out my old photographs and look them over more closely, check the numbers and my memory. My pictures are probably a different car but ….it would be cool if I had pictures of this car for you.

Clay Carpentersays:

July 11, 2012 9:11 pm

Thank you for the kind words! I would love to see those photographs! My car ran all over the east coast so there is definitely a chance that it could be the same car! I look forward to hearing from you. Clay

Tom Cottersays:

July 11, 2012 11:30 am

racer193says:

July 11, 2012 11:43 am

Please do not forgetto post the pics and the “rest of the story” after the reunion of this car and its driver. It really is a great story. I cant wait for the ending. I hope mr Sharkey gets to forget all his current troubles and have some fun in his old steed. Its alot of fun to just drive and remember sometimes.

larrysays:

July 11, 2012 12:38 pm

Sleezyrydsays:

July 11, 2012 12:45 pm

I autocrossed a mostly stock 122S in 1964 around Northern CA, based in Sacramento. Got a trophy for my class in Lodi airport autocross, beating some Triumph TR6s. It was a fun car, and surprisingly fast. Traded up to a Mustang 2+2 in 1965.

Sleezyrydsays:

July 11, 2012 12:48 pm

Diane Sharkeysays:

July 11, 2012 1:07 pm

What a wonderful tribute in the works! My family and I so appreciate your comments and Clay’s hard work to make my Dad’s dream come true! true. My daughter and I are hoping to surprise my Dad and join him on Saturday!

Jimmy Dingsays:

July 11, 2012 1:51 pm

…weighing in from Canada…I used to watch the Volvos run at Mosport (now ridiculously re-named Canadian Tire Motorsport Park ..at least CTC will keep it going…). Have no idea if this one was there but I bet it was at some point. The best races I ever saw were the Trans Ams because they were cars we could RELATE to! Remember “Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday”. With Trans Am and NASCAR in the 60’s that was the way it was. We could RELATE to those cars.

Great and heart-rending story. I hope Stephen has a ball at the vintage races with Clay

LEON J LOKsays:

July 11, 2012 1:57 pm

Great story and hope to see you at Waterford. I presently own and drive a 142S that competed in the 1973 Edmonton Trans Am race. The car was originally sponsored by Castrol Oil and was also shown in the 1974/1975 IPD catalogue. Hope to see a few others on the weekend.

Clay Carpentersays:

July 11, 2012 9:16 pm

Jim Lathamsays:

July 12, 2012 10:06 am

Wonderful story! Until a year ago I owned and raced another of the 122S racers, a 1968, affectionatley known as “Greta” after another famous Swedish Redhead, originally built circa 1970 in Edmonton, originally as a rally car, which has been rallied and raced fairly continuously since then. I and my friends modified Greta to full 1969 SCCA B Sedan specs which made here very competitive against all but the fastest 510’s 2002’s and Alfas. Greta has been pictured sveral times in Victory Lane and her history chronicled in the Volvo Club of BC Newsletters. Good luck on racing this famous Volvo!

Ericsays:

July 12, 2012 10:26 pm

Andysays:

July 17, 2012 6:04 pm

I know that soon, there will come a time for me to have to stop racing. As I age, I see my skills beginning to fray at the edges, and I hate making the decision. Driving a racing car, all in/all out, makes you feel that you can master time… for that brief moment, that you are immortal.. but only until the checkered flag.

Your story gives us all hope that, at least if not immortal, somehow someday we might be remembered.

July 18, 2012 10:31 am

sonicsays:

July 21, 2012 6:52 am

That is a very nice read and what a story very well written wish i could write like that , that car has some history and i would love to be a fly on that cars windscreen when past racer and race car get reunited stuff that dreams get made out off !!!

i will keep my eyes open for any updates top work clay 😉 i take my hat off to you and all thats been invloved in the rebuild also keeping true to the originality is important with vintage cars good choice!!

Ian Loksays:

July 23, 2012 10:31 pm

Great Read! Your story mentioned that there were 4 or 5 Volvo 122’s running in the Trans Am Series. I may have one of them! The car was previously owned and raced by Don McKnight. I am unable to attend this weekend. There are pictures of my car, VSCDA 2002 Waterford Hills Historics. Enjoy your weekend.
Good Luck
Ian Lok

George Hovsepiansays:

August 1, 2012 4:44 pm

Mr. Carpenter, Welcome to the world of Vintage Racing. This story shows you ARE what vintage racing is all about. Let us know if we can help you with the persuite of your dreams. George J. Hovsepian (Vintage Sports Car Drivers Assn – Chief Instructor) 616/916-2650.

tom blanksays:

August 5, 2012 1:14 pm

story about the t/a volvo reminded me of my recent reunion with my old t/a car recently found and restored by mr, bob lee of rolling hills,ca. i wonder if i had competed with the volvo. i helped bob with the restoration as i had remembered the carfrom 1968 then sat in it again in 2010 at montery also x kwech t/a and scca racer thanks tom

October 2, 2013 8:28 pm

Bob Austinsays:

July 16, 2015 9:19 am

Great story! Get that car running and back on the track where it belongs. For most of us, racing is as much about the people we meet at the track as it is about cars and racing. Just imagine all the stories this Volvo could tell if it could speak. Have fun, add to its history, and share it with all the people you can find who have touched it in the years gone by.

Jeff Babcocksays:

July 16, 2015 12:16 pm

This is the 20th season in which I have raced a 68 VOLVO model 122S. The car is very competitive in vintage races with other 2-liter pre-1972 cars. I will attempt to include an on-track photo of #1222, taken a few years ago. Regarding the Trans-Am B Sedan are series, I have started 6 or so of these races in the Chicago area, but have never won. The Datsuns are too light, too powerful and too fast!

Paul Robinsonsays:

July 28, 2015 8:27 am

Clay, lucky you! I suggest that you call Jim Carlson in Burlington, Vt. He is a longtime 122 fan, and owns a Volvo repair shop called “The Swedish Pit,” along with his wife Donna. They are really good people, and he may have raced in the same time frame.
Good luck with the car.